It's all here...for the love...

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Projects from our Paint & Design Studio in Australia. Inspirational and instructional how-to tips on chalk, milk and mineral paint as well as refinishing furniture, upcycling and before and after projects!

This trunk has been with me since I discovered it in the garage all those years ago. When I grew out of my girly bedroom, the trunk stayed as the frills and lace went. When I ventured off to college (uni), moved into my own apartment, then when I got married it came with me each time, just as it did when my husband and I bought our first house...and then made the trek from Los Angeles to Australia where it remains in my home. It stayed in its original condition earning a few more dents, scratches and stories to tell.

I lost my father over Christmas. He was a larger-than-life man with character, strength and more love than any one human should have the capacity for. Respecting and bringing new life to this trunk became very important to me, literally overnight. After years of being content to use it as-is, suddenly I felt it needed restoration, rejuvenation and to stand proud again. And maybe a bit of sparkle because the light my father brought to this earth was no longer.

The trunks of that period were built to last. Perhaps it shows how poor my grandfather was that his trunk is not in fact metal, but a low-grade of timber covered in thick cardboard. Some of the outer shell had fallen or flaked off with age and use. The leather handles had all but shredded away.

Years of use has deteriorated the back of the trunk exposing the plywood under a cardboard-like material

This is a project very close to my heart.

I've had this trunk since I was a little girl. Even when I was very young, I would ask my mother about items that were stored in the garage (a favourite place of exploration for me). I listened to the stories, collected old photos, costume jewellery and a few items like this trunk, which to many might've seemed odd for a child, but to me, felt natural.

Shortly after I "inherited" this trunk and lugged it into my room, I remember my father coming in one night, spotting it and saying, "Hey...that was my fathers!" I replied a little uncertainly, "I know, mom told me I can have it?" He looked a bit puzzled (likely wondering why his daughter would want a beat-up old trunk in her very-girly room). But then a smile lit up his face, his blue eyes twinkled and he said, "You know, that's the only thing he had with him when he got to America..."

As a young man, my grandfather fled what was then communist Russia. Not unlike a scene out of a movie, the story goes that he hid on the back of horse cart full of rubbish or fruit (the story varies!) with only the clothes on his back. He found work on steamer ships and eventually arrived at the Panama Canal where he worked helping to build it for nearly two years to earn money to continue his journey. Eventually he made his way to Los Angeles, with to my understanding, only this trunk.

I knew the steamer trunk was on its way, but I also knew there was an alternate path to its completion. I sent it off to have the leather handles repaired knowing when the trunk returned to my studio, it would tell me how to finish the job.

On its way, but needing a rest and some serious leather-handle-help from an expert

The leather handle restoration by The Luggage Place on Gilbert Street in Adelaide exceeded all expectations. I was moved by the craftsmanship and inspired...and knew exactly how to finish my grandfather's trunk from the moment I saw those beautiful new leather handles.

Isn't that smokey finish gorgeous? I cannot wait to try it on something again soon!

Beautifully restored leather handles by The Luggage Place In Adelaide, South Australia

Going over the metal trim with metallic paint in Old Brass, allowing the Metallic Copper to peek through

MMS Milk Paint in Boxwood with Trim in Old Brass Metallic Paint

Watching paint dry, the natural beauty of this natural paint

Living with me in the studio to cure before moving back into our home

It's all here...for the love...Sada

Many of you who know me know that I'm very much a lets-get-it-done person, but I can be an equally lets-wait-and-see-what-it-does girl. That is exactly what I did, I waited. Frankly, I loved having this trunk in my studio, a constant reminder of my childhood, my father, his father and all the history this modest little piece represents.

After a few days I doused the trunk in Hemp Oil again (it was very thirsty!) I used my hands, a rag and a Paint/Wax Brush to massage the surface, transferring Boxwood onto the Linen in the process, softening its colour and pulling through just enough of the original finish in spots for a gorgeously layered effect.

I allowed it to sit another couple of days before sealing it with Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Wax. It's curing now and I've decided to leave it in my studio while this happens, enjoying its presence. But after the 30 days, it will move into my home again and we will continue our life together!

I loved this journey and all that I felt and thought about while working on it...pondering on the past, the future and considering and appreciating all of the adventure and wonderment this world has in store for each of us.

Thank you for indulging my sentiment and playing a role by being here to share this with me. I wish you all a steamer trunk full of joy and history, as well as a celebration of things yet to come.

Love it Sada! I love that it has such history and that you have transformed it to tell another story xx

Reply

Sada

30/4/2015 03:16:04 am

Thank you so much Emma. It is very special to me!! And thank you for your comment, it means a great deal.
xS

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Tracey Bradshaw

28/4/2015 02:01:18 pm

Beautiful work Sada - what a wonderful piece to have. Now it has a new lease on life as it continues it's journey as a special family treasure. I have my grandfather's desk in the garage waiting for me to bring it back to life.

Reply

Sada

30/4/2015 03:17:53 am

Thank you Tracey. It was a very special project so dear to me. And if I learned one thing, you'll know when it's time to work on your grandfather's desk! I'm always grateful for your support Tracey. Thank you! xx

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Hayley

29/4/2015 01:56:49 am

Oh Sada I loved reading this story. How incredibly special to have a piece that holds so many feelings and special memories.
Your dad sounds like an awesome man, I'm so sorry he is gone....but he will always be in your heart and part of your memories each time you look at this trunk. Your Dad and Grandad would be so proud of the incredible job you have made of restoring this beautiful piece of you family's history. xx

Reply

Sada

30/4/2015 03:19:56 am

Hayley!! So special, thank you. Thank you for your very special message. Your unending kindness and support is a great comfort to me. Thank you Hayley now and always! x

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Ann Volkov

29/4/2015 02:58:07 am

Well sis....you did it again. Told a great story and made me miss Dad all the more. The tears fell here and there as the memories came flooding through my heart and mind. You did an incredible restoration. It looks absolutely beautiful. It is going to look fabulous in your farmhouse that I adore. Dad would be proud. Love you!

Reply

Sada

30/4/2015 03:29:06 am

Look who's here!! Thank you sweet sister for visiting, reading and commenting, you made my day!!! I had a few emotional moments myself working on this and even when posting and sharing the story...kinda caught me off guard! Ha. He was amazing, we were lucky to have him and very fortunate to lie him to rest together, a special time and dad would've loved every second of it. I love you. I miss you. Thank you for everything. xx

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KRIS B.

29/4/2015 04:39:00 am

Beautiful job, what did you do to the decaying portion in the back? Also, what is the inside like? Do you put things in it, or do you plan to finish off the inside as well?

Reply

Sada

30/4/2015 03:35:19 am

Hi Kris,

Thank you for stopping in and for your questions!

I scraped off the cardboard and gave it a good scrub with vinegar-water-essential oil, but I decided to leave it as-is. I like to be reminded of the original condition once in awhile if that makes any kind of sense?I then sealed it with Hemp Oil.

The inside is in quite good shape and yes, it's always been used for storage of some sort...CDs, magazines, our Wii games/equipment for awhile. As it's not moved back into my home yet, I'm not sure where or how it will be used, but it certainly will hold something!! Beautiful and useful!!!

Thank you Kris. Really good questions!! If you'd like photos of the inside or back, just let me know and I'll try to add to the post or I can send them to you.

Another point....if I were painting this for a client, I always give them the option to decide if they want the back/insides finished. It's almost always a 50-50 split.

Great job Sada ! I am now inspired to refinish two trunks that we have in our family - my husband's aunts and my father's whose trunk made his journey from England.

Reply

Sada

5/5/2015 11:09:41 am

Thank you so much Debi!!! And you've made my day, I love when refinishing becomes contagious!!

Please keep me posted on your progress and of course let me know if I can be of help.

xxSada

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Beth

6/4/2017 02:03:15 pm

I was scrolling through your amazing website and happily stumbled upon this. What an amazing story! I actually never knew the details of how Dzeda traveled to America (thanks Mom). I love everything about this post. You did an amazing job on the trunk and the perfect description of Dzeda Valov. I really miss that guy!

Reply

Sada

7/4/2017 02:13:41 am

Hi Beth!
Fancy meeting you here! he he It is a good story, right? I wish I would've listened to everyone that said I should interview my parents and grandparents about their lives. xxx Thank you for visiting!